Wednesday, December 24, 2014

2 Ingredient Chocolate Mousse for Santa- Gluten Free - Dairy Free - Egg Free

Instead of cookies for Santa, how about chocolate mousse?  This one is dairy, egg and gluten free.  And, most importantly, it is delicious!


It only takes 2 ingredients and about 5 minutes (not counting chilling time in the fridge).


You need 6 ounces of almond milk (I used the protein + fiber) and 1 cup of bittersweet chocolate chips.


Place the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 1 minute.


They will be slightly melted, but, look like this.


A quick stir to distribute the heat and they go back in the microwave.

Microwave for another 45 - 55 seconds and they look like this.


Stir for at least a minute and they will all be melted.


Add about half of the almond milk and stir.


It should look like this.


Add the rest of the almond milk and stir.


It will look like this.


Place some ice in a bowl (I used a pie pan) that the bowl of chocolate will fit into.


Place the bowl of chocolate on top of the bowl of ice.


Using a hand mixer, blend the chocolate almond milk mixture for about 5 minutes or until it is smooth and creamy.


It will look like this.


Using a spatula, stir the mousse scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl.


Scoop into dishes (or not).  It should make 4 small portions, but, I scooped it into 3 larger portions.


Doesn't this look amazingly delicious?


Now, go try this for yourself.  Or, make it for Santa!  It's a great holiday treat that almost everyone can enjoy because there is no gluten, no dairy and no eggs!

Merry Christmas!
Love,
Susan

2 Ingredient Chocolate Mousse

6 oz almond milk
1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
  1. Place chips in microwaveable bowl and microwave for 1 minute.  Stir.  Return bowl to microwave for 45 - 55 seconds.  Remove and stir until totally melted.
  2. Add some of the almond milk to the chocolate and stir completely.  Add the rest of the almond milk and stir until completely combined.
  3. Prepare a larger bowl with a layer of ice.  Place chocolate almond milk bowl on top of ice.
  4. Using a hand mixer, blend the chocolate almond milk mixture until it thickens to mousse consistency - 3 to 5 minutes.  Stir with a spatula scraping down sides and bottom of bowl.
  5. Spoon into dishes (or leave in bowl) and allow to chill for about 2 hours.
  6. ENJOY!

Thanks for visiting the Americus Garden Inn Bed and Breakfast blog.  We wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year!

Sunday, December 21, 2014

Daytripping from Americus - A Wonderful Day at Chehaw Zoo in Albany, Georgia

Last week, we decided to take a daytrip to The Animal Park at Chehaw in Albany, Georgia, just 45 minutes from Americus.  We spent about 2 1/2 hours at the zoo and could easily have spent the entire day, if we had visited when the Wiregrass Express Train was running or the African Veldt Safari was operating (March - November).  


It was a very chilly day, but, the sun was shining.


We started our tour looking at the reptiles (all behind glass).  If you don't like snakes, scroll down a little!


This is a Burmese python named Nochaway.


This is a canebrake timber rattlesnake.


Check out this albino boxer turtle and a broad-headed skink.


This is a green tree python.


This is a gray-banded kingsnake.


This is a pancake tortoise.


This little one was not marked, so, I have no idea what it is.


While we were there, they were feeding these frogs live crickets.


There are two snakes in this photo - 


ratsnakes.


It finally warmed up a little and we headed towards the actual zoo area and met this peacock.


The meerkats are absolutely adorable.


However, the peacock was very aggressive towards the meerkats (in their enclosure which the peacock could easily enter and exit) and we wished we could have intervened as we watched the peacock bully them.


We felt like this little guy was saying, "Somebody, please help us!"


Muckalee Swampland Station - looks like pea soup



Look a little closer and you see the alligators.


During "season" they feed the 'gators, but, not this time of year.


There were bald eagles.


This bobcat just looks like a really big housecat as it was grooming itself in the sun.


The cheetahs were also soaking up the sun.


Then, there were the lemurs.


All of a sudden, it seemed, they appeared.


We watched as this brown one groomed the other one.  They are so cute!


Another lemur, sleeping.


The petting zoo animals were funny to watch.  The pig would grab some hay and then take it into the building you see.  The goat was just eating...


There was a Southern black rhinoceros.


It really was a gorgeous day.


The colobus monkeys were fascinating to watch.


Unfortunately for me, this is when my camera started to malfunction.


This is Bogart, the bactrian camel.


Isn't he a handsome guy?


Did you know that red wolves were considered "extinct" in the wild in 1980 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service?


What I found fascinating is that although there have been efforts to restore populations of red wolves to their native habitat, interbreeding with coyotes has been recognized as "the most significant and detrimental threat" to the wolves in North Carolina.  (according to the Chehaw website.)



And, lastly, my favorite, the serval.


How can you not just love that face!


So, the next time you come this way, plan some time to make a day trip to Albany to visit the Chehaw Wild Animal Park.  If you bring your bicycle, Chehaw has miles of groomed bike trails throughout the park.  They also have a BMX bicycle racing track.  There really is plenty to see and do in SouthWest Georgia.

Thanks for visiting the Americus Garden Inn Bed & Breakfast blog.
Keep in touch with us through facebook.  We'd love to hear from you.

Love,
Susan